I joined Pleasanton North Rotary about 4 years ago and feel that it was one of the best decisions I…read morehave made. This group of people all have one thing in common: Service above Self. This is a group of some of the most generous and thoughtful people I have known. As a club we are involved in many projects from building homes to delivering wheel chairs internationally to raising funds for local charities. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved in at any level. I would like to also mention that this is a service organization and not a business or lead sharing organization. This is not a place to sell your own business services or try to get referrals, HOWEVER, through the relationships that I have gained I have earned many clients and so naturally and organically my business has benefitted. I love Rotary and everything they stand for and I especially love Pleasanton North Rotary Club!

If you are looking to join a service group in Pleasanton, this is your group! Great mix of…read moreprofessional people looking to make a difference in our community.

This is a great cause. I have volunteered here more than 20 times with my 13 year old. It is great…read moreto find places that allow kids that young. As much as the cause is great, I have observed on a regular basis team members being short and harsh with my kid if god forbids he drops a grain of rice. But not only that. These people should learn that there is a way of saying things and should practice gratitude a little more....

This is an awesome program that benefits so many deprived children in times of need in the USA and…read morearound the world. Pretty shameful for one review to complain that his teenage son had to pay $20.00 to volunteer. The money is used to pay for the food and transporation around the world. Would have been more appropriate to pay for his son to reinforce what a good deed it is. Cudos to the teenager who wanted to help in anyway.

VOLUNTEER REVIEW: Fertile Ground Works is a non-profit who depend on volunteers to provide…read moregardening help so that harvested produce can be given to local community kitchens and food pantries. A team of 8 of us from work came out one Tuesday morning to offer our help. Lori and Brenda greeted us and gave us instructions for each task. First we harvested veggies, which were separated into yellow bins ready for distribution to food pantries. When we were done with harvesting, we weeded a plant bed, then turned over the soil and added fertilizer. The bed is now ready for planting. It was hard work, but very rewarding. Lori and Brenda weren't just instructors, they were hands on too. Overall, a great experience for a very worthy cause.

I heard about this nonprofit in social media. You can come here and get a few bags of free compost…read more The garden is part of a charitable and educational nonprofit in Livermore, California in land, owned by the Asbury United Methodist Church. They grow vegetables that they provide to local community kitchen and pantries and operate programs to feed the hungry in the tri-valley region. To get your free compost drive all the way to the back and you will see the piles of compost. Bring your own reusable bags or containers such as pots. Then you should first register using your phone, go to the sign, and then scan the QR code. Afterwords fill out the survey. This information helps them to track usage and helps them to understand usage and their value to the communities. I also heard that sometimes during the year they sell different plants. It's important that you only come during the posted hours when they are open. Check their website!

Always a pleasant experience. Staff and manager are always helpful and friendly…read more Stock is neatly arranged and buyable. Not only is Shepard's Gate worth a visit, but they support our community.

This review is written as an observer at a distance given lack of access during the recovery…read moreprocess. Most info gained through family members who have had direct contact and my own research. This program and organization is unlike any other I've seen or heard of. While being very structured in many ways such as lack of outside communication for most of 11 months, this allows the individual to step out from under the burden upon them, long enough to make the personal changes needed. The facilities are excellent, and the needs of the participants are well met. Religion may not be your thing, but if accepting God into your life helps reduce the anxiety, or other inhibiting factors, why not? If participants learn to think about their actions prior to acting, they learn to avoid problems, and get help when they recognize it on the horizon. Those are much needed skills today. The support shepherds gate receives from all the churches in the tri-valley area is nothing short of amazing! It is evident by the volunteer support the organization receives. This program has attendees learning coping skills necessary to live functionally in today's world. They help them develop computer skills. They help them interview for and get employment. They have access to every resource from sponsors to doctors and therapists. Attendees of the program seem very positive. Some refuse to play by the rules and are removed from the program. In the end this is a free 11 month program. Not because insurance is covering it, they don't charge. Yes that's written correctly. This is a program that gives the time needed to move to a new lifestyle, and have stabilization. I can't imagine what this would cost otherwise. When it seems like everyone's got an angle to rob you blind, here is the purest form of love and support. I had my reservations given its structure. But the feedback is outstanding.

A very unpretentious, God-focused church. The pastor brings an incredible depth of biblical…read moreknowledge and insight to every sermon. You know those bible stories you've heard a million times? He explains them in ways you've never heard. How what seem to be innocuous details actually have incredible meaning. His plain spoken sermons are refreshingly un-PC without being needlessly confrontational. They have both a traditional and contemporary service but the contemporary service is still bible-based and reverent (you won't feel like you stumbled into a Van Halen concert and church broke out.) If you're looking for a church home where you feel afterward like you actually attended church and worshipped God without being bored to death or patronized, checkout St. Phillips.

A welcoming place to belong! The people of St. Philip are a caring community and very open to new…read morepeople visiting. There is a warm family atmosphere with activities and groups for people of all ages. They also reach out into the neighborhood and beyond with service. All because He first loved us.

Tucked in the corner of the Pet Food Express & McCaulous shopping center is the Down Syndrome…read moreConnection, a little store-front area that provides education, hope and support to families that have been blessed with a Down Syndrome child. One of my bffs recently gave birth to a perfect little angel who just happens to have an extra chromosome and we learned of the Down Syndrome Connection at the hospital. This amazing organization provided her and her family with tons of literature as well as classes where she can learn techniques to assist with the baby's development. I've been to the facility to watch her other child while they were in class and had the opportunity to hang out in their warm front room, playing with a cool train set and reading from their huge selection of children's books. Everyone that works here is SO nice and the feeling you get being there is that these people are not only knowledgeable about Down Syndrome but more than just empathetic, they've been through a similar journey. In addition to hanging out in the office, I was lucky enough to attend their huge annual event, which consists of a walk and then a bbq lunch/carnival. What an amazing day getting to celebrate tons of special children who are so inspiring and the enormous cheering teams they have made up of all the family/friends that love them. I can't say enough about this wonderful organization. Down Syndrome Connection is Woohoo! As good as it gets! Yelp 100 Challenge: 98/100

We first learned of the Down syndrome connection 15 years ago. When I moved back into the bay area…read morewith my four-year-old son who had down syndrome. We started off in the children's groups which were great. We've been getting speech therapy here for years. I highly recommend Heather she is the best speech therapist. Heather is the only person that has been able to help me with my sons speech. I also received a lot of advocacy help from Martha Hogan who was the founder. She also referred me to a couple of attorneys. Which have helped me out through the years. From finding attorneys to help me with the school district, to getting an attorney for conservatorship for my son when he turned 18. I can't say enough how much this facility has helped me, being a single mom of a child with down syndrome. They're are so many options here for help. I just want to say one more thing, that every single person that works here is so nice.

I had the privilege of seeing Amma on her tour in 2018. My son really likes hugs and when I heard…read moreabout Amma--who is known for many things, including having hugged more people than anyone else in the world--I figured it would be a good cultural experience. My husband, son and I went and it was a wonderful experience. She hugged us: first son, then son +husbnad, then son+ husband+me. I didn't know what to expect but it was quite moving. If you visit when Amma is here, you get an intro video that explains her work (impressive), some meditation (nice). Newbies are invited to sit at the front and you get hugged early on. After that, you can shop the visiting vendors and buy some yummy food they set up outside. The grounds are beautiful too. Try to arrive early. Identify yourself to the greeters as a first-time visitor. Amma's volunteers do lots of interesting things on site when she isn't here: gardening, making food for those in need, recycling projects. They also COOK FOOD AND DELIVER IT EVERY SATURDAY. This can be combined with delivery of fresh fruits harvested from the Amma center. Check out the Food From Home Yelp review for more information on that.

Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandaymayi Devi) is a God-Realized being who has nothing to gain from us, or…read moreanyone. She is the spiritual mother to millions traveling the world to give solace, advice and comfort to those that seek it. She is only here on this earth plane to uplift all of humanity, and does so through a simple glance, Her embrace, Her very breath. One is not required to follow the religion of Her birthplace which is called in the west "Hinduism", but in reality is Sanatana Dharma -- eternal wisdom -- a philosophy that welcomes all regardless of their spiritual path or religious orientation. Amma's religion is Love. Amma owns nothing and every cent donated goes towards supporting Embracing the World -- all of the charities and initiatives created by Amma. Donations are strictly voluntary. Amma never asks anyone for money. The majority of the staffing is also voluntary, with no salaries in most areas. Amma Herself monitors how every penny is spent and every resource is utilized and emphasizes the importance of minimizing waste.

We feel so incredibly lucky to have found RCD. Our daughter started there when she was just 8…read moremonths old, and from day one, we've been blown away by the love, care, and thoughtfulness of the entire staff, the babies absolutely thrive under Miss Gloria's care! The teachers are absolutely special, they are kind, nurturing, attentive, and genuinely invested in each child. It's such a comforting feeling to drop her off each day knowing she's in the best hands. We also really love RCD's play-based learning approach. It's been amazing to watch our daughter grow and she's made huge leaps academically and developmentally. She absolutely adores going to "school" and we can already see how it's laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. The facility is great, not brand new but very safe and setup great for the kids. The community is warm and welcoming, and on top of all that RCD is actually affordable for the quality of care and education they provide compared to other options in the area, it honestly checks every box. We're beyond grateful to be part of the RCD family. Thank you to all the amazing teachers and staff for creating such a wonderful, nurturing space for our daughter to learn, play, and thrive. The peace of mind makes leaving her in the mornings just a teensy bit easier :)

RCD has been a wonderful part of our lives for the past four years. From the moment we enrolled,…read morewe've experienced a warm, welcoming, and nurturing environment. The staff are incredibly compassionate, the facilities are always clean and safe, and the curriculum is both engaging and thoughtfully designed. What makes RCD truly special is its connection to the Lutheran Church. It's more than just a preschool--it's a community. Being part of the church has added a deeper sense of belonging and support, and I'm especially grateful that my child has learned the foundational values of the Christian faith in such a loving setting. RCD is diverse, inclusive, interactive, and supportive. I recommend it to any family looking for a place where their child can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually, all while feeling safe and cared for.